The Irish standard., 1887-02-05
Suiii Dhuv,
THE COINER.
BY GERALD GRIFFIN,
Author of The Collegians.'' etc.
BY GERALD GRIFFIN
CHAPTER VIT.-(Continued.) J
Author of g The Collegians." etc.

woman said, after meditating alone 70
moment on the course which sh
ought to pursue. Gone chance to saw
all! What if it fail! Hate is as blacl
and deadly in the old as in the young
and sometimes more so. He may re
fuse-What then? Avow all? Ruin
death, aud horror!-Stay! let me thinl
let me pause moment-O for some
friend! some kind adyiser-some-Hea
VENT she clasped her hands and up
lifted them, but again repressed the
feeling. "No--no-it is ray humat
agony that speaks, and Heaven that calls
for penitence, will not hear me for my
own selfish interests. Ny hands are
bloody too--had forgotten that?'' and
comprising hex lips with a shocking
stare OF desolation, she walked to the
door Of the room, and beckoned to the
old .Palatine, whose voice she heard IN
the next apartment, to enter.
s'Do not hurt the poor child, y he said,
as the woman ferce]y repelled the little
boy, who attempted to force his way in
with the old man. ri don't know why
it is, (" he added, patting the little fellow
on the head, and looking pensiyely i'll It's
open face, "hut [ like Che boy. Here
my man, is a tester for you!-that's a
hero! I've seen an eye like that child IS
somewhere, certainly
The woman fell Oh her knees, and
clasped the child to her bosom, will, a
burst OF hysterical passion, kissing his
neck, and suffering her hair to fall in
long, abandoned tresses over his back
and shoulders.
''Strange creature!" taonght the Pal
arine, 'swhaJ mixture of affection and
unkindness' what a changefu! sudden
ness of motive and feeling appear to be
in all her actions!'
While he again caressed the boy, the
woman rushed into the other room,
dashed the tears from her eyes. and
glancing quickly round, snatcled from
the extended hand OF Shine vessel of
raw spirits, from which he was just
about to replenish his tumbler of punch.
aad placing it to her lips, drained it to
the very last; then. tossing the vessel Oil
the table, she ree-ltered the apartment,
fortified with that dreadful energy, with
which the royal laurileress Of Scotland,
Oh another occasion, sought to lnvigor
ate the natural ieeb}encss Of her sex
and utterly regardless Of the impression
which she lett on the mind OF the gaping
and astounded Shine, both with respect
to her morality ard her good breeding.
:'Your name is Segur?" she said, after
pausing q moment to collect herself
"Don't start" she added, sit was that
informed me-" pointing to the valise
which he hello III his hand.
s'That is my name, certainly said
the old man i'll some surprise.
s<You are travelling to your native VIII
laye-your cottage neaI Court Mat
tress?"
81 am"
''By the Crag road?"
eyes.
''Return the way you came, OF take
any road but that, there's danger in it. -
The Palatine gave her a sharp and
very suspicious glance.
II am we'll armed'' said he.
The woman smiled. ''If 10 road but
that will serve your purpose, remain
here tonight The heaven itself is bent
against you, "-and she pointed through
the window to black cloud that hung
above the dialated disk of the parting
sun.
81 am we'll provided in that respect,
ALSO" said the old man; "but what dam
gers do you speak of?''
''Ihe road is infested. Everybody
fears ii in those times.''
co." said the Palatine, eff your coun-
sci is only grounded on such a general
suspicion, we won't say any more about
it," And he turned away.
''Stay!' said the woman, OBTAINING
him, and casting her eyes on the earth
*'You had----'' long pause---
s'there VAS
s'You are i'll, my good woman.'
s'Sir!''
''Shall give you chair? Sit down.
What would you say to me?"
''This ague plaques NE SO. One mo-
ment, sir. You had friend, in care of
your farm, an old blind man--Adam Sc
gur? You are aware OF his fate??''
II am. He was murdereil?' said the
old man eagerly.
The woman shiyered in all her limbs.
'sHe was-and-''
tsMy daughter! I see you know my
family? What of her my good woman?''
go your daughter-your daughter Is
well-merry and well-pll engage
x,or,, xuo71 onH harov ip!nod tJ,oD1-a no